Haven't posted on FM in a while. I will be going to Taiwan and China in the beginning of next year. I'll be visiting cities, cultural areas, and I will also have a lot of opportunities to take landscape photos.

Currently my gears are
5Dmk2
35L
135L

I'm wondering if I need/should grab a 17-40L to take landscape, or do you guys think the 35L should be enough to cover it.

17-40 is a small light addition to your gear and will be priceless for some shots. The 35 is sharper and has low light capabilities but that 17 has a special look that the 35 can only touch by shooting a pano series on tripod. I'd say get it!

Xavier RivalRegistered: Jul 21, 2004Total Posts: 4015Country: France

For landscape, you should be quite happy with the 17-40L. It is not as sharp in the corners around the 17mm end as I would like, but it still does the job pretty well when stoped down. It should also make a nice 3 lenses kit with your two current lenses.

the two that account for 90% of the images are the 35mm and 24-105. Personally, landscapes at 35mm can be perfect - really depends on the scene.

How's the 24-105 for landscape @ 24mm?

BrianORegistered: Aug 21, 2008Total Posts: 8555Country: United States

No lens recommendations, but while you're in China be sure to wear a "Free Tibet" button.

stanjRegistered: Aug 05, 2003Total Posts: 9992Country: United States

mark petri wrote:
I travel with the 17-40, 35L, 24-105, and 135L.

the two that account for 90% of the images are the 35mm and 24-105. Personally, landscapes at 35mm can be perfect - really depends on the scene.

seraphkz wrote:
How's the 24-105 for landscape @ 24mm?

It's ok. Pretty bad barrel distortion, but with landscapes you won't notice and you can fix it if needed. Needs to be stopped down to f8 or so for good landscape quality.

WINNRegistered: Sep 02, 2005Total Posts: 104Country: United States

Lots of folks like to use a 70-200 zoom for landscapes. Haven't been to mainland China but have been to Taiwan a few times. Depending upon where you go this might be more helpful then the 135mm. I know that's not what your question was so I'm sorry that I added this but Not suggesting that you buy one but rent? Have a great trip.

I'm going to be in Taipei later this month. In the city, like most urban areas, wider is better. I almost justified getting the 17mm tilt/shift for this trip.

SnopchenkoRegistered: May 19, 2010Total Posts: 2752Country: Russia

Howsabout Sigma 12-24? Seriously, on my trip to China this past summer, I had a 1D Mark II N, a 20D, a 16-35 II and a 70-200/2.8 IS, that covered about 95% of my shooting situations. A couple of times I wished for something even wider for shooting mostly interiors though (left my 14 at home for weight saving... should've left the guidebook instead, totally worthless and much heavier to boot!) and the low light option (but you have that covered)

ViscaBRegistered: Sep 10, 2009Total Posts: 507Country: Netherlands

You absolutely need to bring a wide lens.

Else you can't get Taipei 101 in the frame. If you go see grand things like the terracotta army you need a wide angle as well!

Are you doing a stop in Hong Kong as well?

timpdxRegistered: Feb 02, 2005Total Posts: 1913Country: United States

No question, bring a WA, 24-105 or even better the 17-40. Cities like HK and Taipei almost demand 17mm on FF. For landscape the 17-40 is a decent performer stopped down a bit. As I learned in Seoul last year, Asian cities are bright at night, I brought a wide prime on that trip, but my F4 zoom worked just fine because of all the lighting was giving me such fast shutter speeds.

I am going to Tokyo in a couple of weeks and am bringing the 25-105L and the Tokina 16-28. I don't shoot longer than 105 much when I travel to urban places, always seem to want wider, though.

Ya, the 24-105 is ok at the wide end, the distortion isn't a killer with landscapes and you can correct most of it in PS.

The "need" for a WA lens in landscape is a faulty notion. It really depends on the scene, etc. Doesn't hurt to have the 17-40 in tow though. What is your shooting style is the question to ask with regard to lens selection. I got by for years with just a 50mm and then just with a 35mm.